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TheraVida Announces Positive Top-Line Phase 2 Results for Tolenix™ (THVD-201) in Patients with Overactive Bladder and Urge Urinary Incontinence
Jan 03, 2013, 08:30 EST
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TheraVida, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel combination drug products, announced positive results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of its lead product candidate Tolenix™ (THVD-201) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI). Tolenix™ is a twice-daily (BID) proprietary combination of tolterodine, a muscarinic antagonist used to treat OAB, and pilocarpine, a muscarinic agonist approved to treat dry mouth (xerostomia).
The objectives of the randomized, double-blinded, multiple-crossover Phase 2 trial were to assess the safety and efficacy of Tolenix™ in reducing the frequency of micturition (urination) and incontinence episodes per day, as compared to both placebo control and active control Detrol® (tolterodine tartrate). In addition, common side effects of muscarinic antagonist therapies, such as dry mouth, were carefully assessed in the 138 patients enrolled in the trial. This international Phase 2 clinical trial was conducted in South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
Patients receiving Tolenix™ (2mg tolterodine plus 9mg pilocarpine, administered BID) experienced statistically significant improvements in their OAB and UUI symptoms over placebo control, as well as efficacy similar in magnitude to the maximum dose of active control Detrol® (2mg tolterodine, administered BID). Patients receiving Tolenix™ exhibited no significant safety issues, and demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in their saliva production and dry mouth side effects, as compared to active control Detrol®. TheraVida intends to present detailed efficacy and tolerability results from the Phase 2 trial of Tolenix™ at an upcoming scientific meeting.
"Results from this Phase 2 clinical trial clearly demonstrate that Tolenix™ has the ability to provide patients with bladder control, while reducing dry mouth side effects typically associated with OAB medications such as Detrol®," said Roger Flugel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at TheraVida. "Dry mouth side effects are a primary reason why patients stop taking medicines to treat their OAB and urgency-related micturition symptoms. We believe there is a significant opportunity for a new OAB treatment option for currently diagnosed patients and the aging population. Tolenix™ has the potential to improve the overall tolerability, compliance, and satisfaction for patients with OAB and UUI."
This Phase 2 study also demonstrated a favorable therapeutic index, which may enable higher dosing of Tolenix™ in some patients. A higher dose of Tolenix™ (3mg tolterodine plus 13.5mg pilocarpine, administered BID) was studied in a 12-week open-label extension period, in a subset of patients in this Phase 2 trial. In this extension period, the higher dose of Tolenix™ exhibited the potential to provide greater bladder control, while minimizing dry mouth side effects.
TheraVida intends to conduct additional international clinical trials of Tolenix™ in patients with OAB and UUI.
About Overactive Bladder (OAB)
OAB is primarily a disease of aging, characterized by an increase in urinary frequency, urinary incontinence and nocturia (waking at night to urinate). OAB is a common disorder, affecting approximately 16% to 17% of the population worldwide, with a prevalence similar to diabetes or asthma. As the world population continues to age, the prevalence of OAB is expected to increase.
About Tolenix™ (THVD-201)
Tolenix™ is a novel, patent-protected therapeutic that combines the muscarinic antagonist tolterodine with a modified-release formulation of the muscarinic agonist (salivary stimulant) pilocarpine. Tolenix™ incorporates a unique and proprietary combination drug technology developed by TheraVida that can be applied to any of the standard muscarinic antagonist therapies used to treat OAB, to overcome problematic dry mouth typically associated with this class of pharmacological agents. TheraVida combination drug products such as Tolenix™ have the potential for greater efficacy, improved tolerability, and better patient compliance, when compared to tolterodine alone for the treatment of OAB and UUI.
About TheraVida
TheraVida, Inc., is applying its unique and patent-protected combination drug technology to develop products that offer patients therapeutic benefits with significantly better side effect, safety, and efficacy profiles when compared with predecessor, standard-of-care therapies. The company's lead product, Tolenix™ (THVD-201) is being developed for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and is advancing into Phase 3 clinical studies. For further information, please visit www.theravida.com.
SOURCE TheraVida, Inc.


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This week we were riding with Chad on the hunt because Levi wasn't around. The guys had spotted some potential game and rolled up to check it out. It was Jordyn Eve, and she was dressed in a sexy fetish outfit. She was just returning from a party when the guys caught up with her. They asked if she was alone or with a guy. She explained how they had just broken up. She was looking for some revenge, so it was the perfect setup. Jordyn jumped in the car, and they headed out.
The guys asked if they could see more of her outfit, and she turned around and showed them her assless pants. That booty was big, ripe and ready for the taking. Back at the house, Jordyn got right to work sucking on some cock. Chad was loving it and wanted to get in that HOT milf pussy. After getting her nice and wet, he went balls deep in that nice snatch. Chad never let up and had Jordyn cumming like crazy. When it was finally his turn, he pulled out and jizzed all over her pretty face.

subset: commoncrawl


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9 Exciting Crafts
Try these great project ideas to make fun projects and crafts!Download All (9)
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Click on an activity in the set below to see more info.
Make a Duct Tape WalletView Full Activity
Make a Duct Tape Wallet: This activity provides kids great practice in following directions and makes for a fun homemade gift.
Design a Great Glass Xylophone!View Full Activity
Your third grader will delight in learning about sound waves as he observes the different sounds created by tapping on glasses with varying amounts of water.
Make Rose Petal BeadsView Full Activity
Who knew that you could make beads out of rose petals? Not only can it be done, but the beads smell wonderful!
Make Gak: Experiment with PolymersView Full Activity
In this 3rd grade science activity, you'll experiment with the little-known fourth state of matter: polymers! Mix borax with white glue and watch what happens.
Make an Oil LanternView Full Activity
Celebrate Hanukkah the old-fashioned way with an oil lantern. This craft is a perfect opportunity to teach your child the history of this special holiday.
The set is continued below.
Make a Keyhole Spy GlassView Full Activity
Combine the science of physics with the fun of playing spy. Your young detective can make his own tiny looking glass. It's simple to make!
Tin Can LanternsView Full Activity
Help your child comprehend the past by using hands-on activities like this homemade lantern project.
Vintage Silhouette PillowcaseView Full Activity
Make a personalized pillowcase for your third grader with his old-fashioned silhouette image. You won't be able to find these in stores!
Spy SunglassesView Full Activity
Outfit a pair of dark sunglasses with sneaky mirrors for eyes in the back of your head.
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"Inside the camera bag of X-Photographer" Series
He grew up in mining area of Limburg, Belgium and had an early interest for photography.
At the age of 9 he bought his first compact camera, followed by his first reflex camera a few years later.
He took photos of everything that fascinated him but his main focus seemed to be 'people'. After his mandatory service in the army he went to school to study photography at the Stedelijke Academie voor Moderne Kunsten in Hasselt, Belgium. 3 years later he moved to Oostende where he finished his course at the Vormingscentrum voor zelfstandigen in Roeselare. His passion for photography remained even though his career had taken a different turn. The passion took the upper hand in 2006 when Ioannis chose to make photography his fulltime job. He made portraits of athletes for Roularta Media Group for some time.
Professionally, he is very active in making spontaneous portraits, but also artistic nude images of clients. He also makes product photos for various manufacturers and also shoots interior photos for real estate firms. His work consists of portraits, artistic nudity and travel photography.


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- Fairmont offers fun ways to fling before the ring -
TORONTO, December 1, 2010 – As the world heads into engagement season, love-struck suitors will be popping questions like Christmas crackers from now until Valentine's Day. But once the big question is out of the way, the very next question on every fiancé's mind is "where will we have the stag?" With fairy-tale castles, romantic beaches and sumptuous ballrooms, the properties of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are famous wedding destinations of choice among brides and grooms-to-be. But what many betrothed couples may not know, is that when it comes to pre-nuptial celebrations, Fairmont takes the cake (model jumping out of it, optional). The first bachelor party is rumored to have taken place in ancient Greece, when the soldiers of Sparta would hold dinners and offer toasts to the soon-to-be-married men among them. Since then, parties to mark the transition from single life to coupledom have become known as stags or stagettes in the UK and Canada; bachelor or bachelorette parties in the US; and, buck and buckettes in Australia. Perhaps inspired by celebrations portrayed in popular gal pal and nuptial flicks like Sex and the City and The Proposal, more and more best men and maids-of-honor are choosing to take their parties on the road.For bridal parties looking for fun and memorable ways to celebrate, Fairmont offers a few ideas for pre-nuptial celebrations at some of the greatest destinations in the world. Just remember, what happens at the bachelorette party, stays on Facebook…Twitter…YouTube...
For Bridesmaids & Groomsmen:
His n Hers Hotels in BermudaWith more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world, Bermuda offers a chance for the boys to play while the girls can spa their day away. Fairmont has conveniently located sister hotels on the idyllic island, so the engaged couples can be close, but not too close! For men:The Ultimate Tee Time Golf Package offers unlimited golf at The Fairmont Southampton. Package rates start from $579 USD per room, per night based upon double occupancy. For the ladies:Girls Long Weekend Away Package at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess includes $150 USD spa credit, oysters, Chablis and afternoon tea. Package starts from $1345 USD per room based on double occupancy for three nights.
Ski Bunnies in WhistlerWhether the group is comprised of ski bunnies or those in pursuit of them, the lively atmosphere of Whistler, B.C. never disappoints for a good time. With two world-class mountains, bridal parties can hit the slopes all day then enjoy the raucous nightclubs, sushi joints, cigar lounges and hot tub scene of the pristine alpine village. Where to stay: The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. What to book: Ski for Free Package, rates start at $259 CAD in early season and $399 CAD in regular season, with a two-night minimum. Available November 25, 2010 until April 25, 2011.
Take the Plunge in MexicoDiving for the first time is considered by many to be the beginning of a life-long passion. Being introduced to a world of underwater life and near weightlessness is an experience recommended to all, particularly those whose life is about to change anyway. Fairmont Mayakoba, on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico is perfectly located a short ride away from the wild nightlife and beaches of Playa del Carmen, balanced by the tranquil Willow Stream Spa featuring a rooftop pool and healing tropical fruit juices. The betrothed might enjoy the Mayan-inspired Honey in the Heart treatment in the privacy of the treetop Cha Chaac Suite. Where to stay: Fairmont Mayakoba. What to book: Mayakoba Escapes, per room per night rates start at $229 for stays from January 2 to December 16, 2011, exclusive of spa treatments plus applicable taxes and resort fee.
Sheikh it up in DubaiBridesmaids and brides-to-be will love the bustling streets of the famous Gold Souk, one of the largest retail gold markets in the world, with a dazzling collection of jewelry glistening through the shop windows. Nearby, the Spice Souk offers an exciting foray into the world of Middle Eastern delicacies. Meanwhile, the groom-to-be and his menfolk can escape to The Mall of the Emirates, featuring Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski slope in the Middle East, a bowling and arcade center, a 14 screen Cinestar Cinema complex, a 500 seat theatre and an art gallery. Where to stay: Fairmont Dubai.What to book: Bed & Breakfast Package, rates begin at AED 1,159 for single occupancy, year round.
Absolute Spa in VancouverNestled between the mountains and the ocean, Vancouver is famous for its ability to offer skiing and sailing in the same day. A mecca for celebrities and international visitors, the city offers great shopping, award-winning restaurants and microbreweries and vibrant nightlife on Granville or among the trendy clubs of Yaletown. By day, the Absolute Spa at the iconic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver provides hip and hangover-healing treatments for both bachelors and bachelorettes, including "Diamonds are a Girls' Best Friend" and "Absolute Man". Where to stay: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. What to book: Sanctuary in the City Spa Package, rates begin at $399 CAD per night, year round.
Wrap it Up in JasperFor His and Her bridal parties looking for an escape from urban life, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge provides a cozy mountain hideaway that will inspire brides and grooms alike to slow down and breathe deeply. The brand new 10,000 square foot Fairmont spa offers such delectable treatments as a maple-butter body wrap, mountain mineral ritual and a fir-infused stone massage. With a heated outdoor pool, there is no better place to refresh and unwind. Where to stay: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. What to book: Jasper Spa Getaway Package, rates begin at $359 CAD per night, available year round.
For Bridesmaids Only:'Dream More' in New YorkBridesmaids heading to New York City can live it up and enjoy all of the luxuries that The Plaza, A Fairmont Managed Hotel has to offer with the 'Dream More' package. After shopping at The Shops at The Plaza, grabbing a cocktail in The Rose Club, and getting glamorous at Caudalie Vinothérapie® Spa and Warren Tricomi Salon, bridesmaids can relax in a Plaza Guest Room or Suite. The Dream More package includes luxurious accommodations and a $100 stay credit for guests staying in a Plaza Guest Room and $200 stay credit in a Plaza Suite. Stay credit may be applied towards Plaza dining outlets or Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa and must be used during stay. Where to stay: The Plaza, a Fairmont managed hotel. What to book: Dream More Package, from $965 USD per night, Available year-round, based on a 2-night minimum stay.
Pajama Party in ScottsdaleWith its warm sunny skies, prickly pear martinis at chic poolside lounges, and some of the best designer outlet shopping in North America, Scottsdale is a dream destination for a girls' weekend. Fairmont makes it even more girly-girl, with pink pajamas, pedicures, manicures, complimentary cocktails and of course, tubs of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Where to stay: The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. What to book: Girlfriends Pajama Party Package, with rates starting at $605 USD per night, available year-round.
DIY Perfume in the South of FranceFragrance will fix a moment in time in our memories like nothing else. Brides and bridesmaids can design their own signature scent in preparation for an unforgettable wedding day, with a trip to France's oldest Perfumery, Galimard. The perfumers will lead the ladies through a workshop explaining the perfume making process and each participant will take away a bottle of their own custom-designed scent. Where to stay: Fairmont Monte Carlo. What to book: Scent…sational Package, rates begin at €459 per night with a minimum two night stay, available year round.
Sun Salutations on the Big IslandDownward dog will never be the same after seaside yoga classes on the beach. The bride-to-be and her party will find blissful escape from the details of wedding planning at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii. An authentic Hawaiian outdoor Spa Without Walls draws from the island's natural healing mana (power), featuring waterfall massage hale (huts) and breathtaking oceanfront massage cabanas. In addition to yoga and pilates classes, bridesmaids can learn to snorkel, paddle an outrigger canoe, hike through the largest petroglyph field in the Pacific or learn to weave a coconut leaf basket, all guided by the Orchid Beach Boys. Where to stay: Fairmont Orchid. What to book: Bed & Breakfast Package, rates begin at $319 USD per night, available year-round.
BFF in BanffThe Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs, nestled in the Canadian Rockies, offers the ideal setting for a bride-to-be and her best-friends-forever to relax, beautify and socialize in the clean mountain air. Featuring mineral pools under majestic snowy peaks, this spectacular mountain retreat and fairytale setting will leave the bridal party feeling refreshed and ready for the big day. Après-spa martinis in the lounge provide breathtaking, panoramic views of the Bow Valley. Services include the Alpine Aromatherapy Massage and the Rockies Rehydration Facial for a healthy spa experience. Where to stay: The Fairmont Banff Springs. What to book: Escape to Willow Stream Spa Package, rates begin at $539 CAD per night, available year-round.
For Groomsmen Only:
Tailgate Party in ChicagoSteaks, deep-dish pizza, blues bars, the Magnificent Mile and "da Bears"… what is not to love about a boys weekend in Chi-town? After a hearty dinner of bombshell wines, fine cigars and a wild night at the clubs on Division Street, groomsmen can bond over a Bears game at Soldier Field. Where to stay: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park. What to book: The Bears Touchdown Tailgate Package, rates begin at $224 USD and does not include game tickets, but does include a Chef-prepared take-away lunch with Shaved Beef Sandwiches Au Jus, Chicken Wings and Tortilla Chips with Seven-Layer Dip. Available the evening prior to and game day only, based on availability.
Hockey Night in MontrealMontreal is famous for its legendary bachelor parties and a night of Canadian hockey makes it that much more memorable. From Crescent Street to St Laurent Boulevard, the night club scene and trendy bars attract an international crowd. The real excitement is in joining Montreal fans to cheer on their beloved Montreal Canadiens, known as the "Habs". Where to stay: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, conveniently located near the Bell Centre. What to book: Hockey Night in Montreal Package, rates from $139 CAD per night. Available when the Canadiens play home games, until April 5, 2011. Pilgrimage to St AndrewsThe Best Man will live up to his name by booking a Manor Home for up to eight buddies at Fairmont St Andrews, voted one of the World's Top Golf Resorts by Condé Nast Traveler readers and one of the World's 50 Best Golf Hotels by the Golf Digest Awards. After a day on the links, the lads can enjoy a chef-prepared barbecue before kicking back to sip some of Scotland's finest whiskeys while solving life's mysteries. Where to stay: Fairmont St Andrews. What to book: The Ultimate Manor Home Package, rates are £2,216.00 per night based on eight sharing and a minimum 3 night stay. Available until April 30, 2011.Need for Speed in SonomaHeart-racing adventure and relaxed elegance join forces in this perfect combination of exhilaration and rejuvenation. Bachelor parties can burn up the pavement with racing lessons at the Jim Russell racing school. Afterward, they can chill out with a much-needed complimentary cocktail at the famous Lobby Bar at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Where to stay: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. What to book: Burn & Chill Package, rates start at $219 USD, not including Jim Russell Racing School component, available year round.
About a Beer in BostonFor bachelors with a love of beer, The Fairmont Copley Plaza, in Boston has partnered with Samuel Adams to offer an exclusive behind the scenes brewery experience. Groomsmen will take a private tour of the brewery, and then enjoy a private tasting of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and limited edition brews in the brewery's barrel room. Back at the hotel, Chef will prepare a three-course beer pairing dinner. Where to stay: The Fairmont Copley Plaza. What to book: The Samuel Adams Behind the Scene Brewery Package, rates start at $429 USD based on double occupancy, available January to May and September to December.All packages unless noted otherwise are subject to availability, priced per room, per night, exclude taxes and are based on double occupancy. Prices are quoted in local currency. For reservations, please visit http://www.fairmont.com/, call 1-800-441-1414 or contact your local travel agent.
About Fairmont Hotels & ResortsWith over 60 distinctive hotels, including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, and more in development, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality brand known for its warm and engaging service and culturally rich experiences. Located in coveted worldwide destinations, its unrivalled collection of classic hotels imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication, and social importance, and are often considered destinations in and of themselves. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with 100 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit http://www.fairmont.com/.


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In this special Post/Light/Times Herald edition of 'The First Word' — Cigarroa speaks out against Sandefer's Seven Solutions; the Senate finally releases its redistricting proposal; the august upper body adjourns with no deal on education financing, meanwhile the House still hasn't taken up HB400; Perry says the state isn't getting fire aid in an interview but a review of the facts says otherwise; and did you look outside at the rain today?
***Outside the Lines
The Senate began holding hearings this afternoon on a controversial Republican backed redistricting map that Democrats have attacked as a violation of the Voting Rights Act. The most dramatic changes to the map can be found in Central and South Texas — Sen. Judith Zaffirini's district will now run all the way from Laredo to Austin (and bypass Bexar County) and Travis County would be split into four Senate districts; two solidly Democratic and two solidly Republican.
First the basics from Nolan Hick's story from this morning's San Antonio Express-News:
Under the proposed changes, the number of senators representing San Antonio would slip from four to three because state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would have a district that completely avoids Bexar County.
Zaffirini was upset she wouldn't represent San Antonio if the proposal were to pass. It has her district running all the way from Laredo to East Austin's historically black neighborhoods.
"I've worked hard for Bexar County," she said. "I especially carry their higher education agenda passionately; I've made a difference for Bexar County over the years."
The Senate redistricting committee will hold a hearing on the bill today.
Zaffirini said her proposed district brought back memories of the controversial 2003 mid-cycle redistricting map pushed by former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, which transformed U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's district from one that encompassed most of Austin into a "fajita district" that stretched from Austin to the Rio Grande Valley.
The Senate Redistricting Committee's meeting has been the scene of rather heated and emotional testimony, especially from Sen. Wendy Davis and Sen. Judith Zaffirini. The Houston Chronicle's Joe Holley has been blogging about the committee hearing all afternoon long:
Maybe the most interesting objection comes from Sen. Judith Zaffirini, the Laredo Democrat whose new district would run, as she says, "from river to the river" — that is, from the Colorado to the Rio Grande. "I was shocked," she said yesterday afternoon. "I love Austin — my son has a condo in Austin — and it would be exciting to represent it. But what does this have to do with communities of interest?"
Zaffirini will probably offer up a new map, perhaps tomorrow. Although it's unlikely to persuade the GOP majority to change the lines, it has a purpose. It's necessary to provide an alternative for any subsequent legal challenge — which is as sure to come as the summer heat.
***Lay Down Your Budget Burdens
Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News Austin Bureau Chief Peggy Fikac reports that Rep. Jim Pitts will try to move the Senate's revenue bills through the House, instead of moving the House's own proposals and that the state will run out of money midway through 2013 unless those revenue bills are passed.
The House's barebones budget proposal would run out of money for public schools by early 2013 and end Medicaid reimbursement to nursing homes soon after unless lawmakers add money to the plan and revise education funding formulas, the chamber's chief budget writer said Thursday.
"There's a lot of holes in that budget that we need to fill," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, told his colleagues after again postponing bills that would use accounting maneuvers and other changes to provide more revenue.
***Cigarroa Sticks the Landing
In a highly anticipated speech, UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa said that the UT System Board of Regents should trust his leadership and should stay away from micromanaging the University system. Rumors had swirled in the run-up to the meeting that the newer regents might attempt to sack Cigarroa and UT President Bill Powers because they are against implementing wealthy Perry donor Jeff Sandefer's plan for overhauling the state's university system. The Express-News' Melissa Ludwig reports:
Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the UT System, told regents he would make UT campuses better and more efficient, but he needed their trust to implement his plan for reforms.
"Universities simply cannot be micromanaged," Cigarroa said. "I trust my presidents. I need your support, and I need your confidence, and I need your authority to accomplish the important work ahead."
In recent months, conservative regents have pushed for dramatic changes at the system, asking for exhaustive, detailed data about the inner working of universities. Some alumni, donors and students cried foul, criticizing the attempts as ham-fisted and simplistic.
Rumors swirled that some regents were plotting to oust Cigarroa and Bill Powers, president of UT Austin, for resisting their reform ideas.


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Financial Markets and InstitutionsCarret icon
(3 cr.) This course presents a study of financial markets and intermediaries in a global setting with emphasis on how funds flow from investors in financial assets to investors in real assets. The types and functions of markets and institutions that exist today are discussed along with the differences between them. Topics include the role of monetary policy and the operations of central banks; the regulatory environment in which financial markets and institutions operate; and the financial instruments traded in the markets today. Prerequisite: FIN 201; Every Year, Spring and Summer
This course is currently not being offered. Please try again next session.


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All right, so I know there's a few people here in the SB that enjoy defense discussions and toys when they come up, I'm wondering if there's enough info and action (hopefully just in the acquisition realm) to keep this alive.
I realize there's a large range of topics to cover. Besides OEF and OIF (which have their own threads here and here) I'm not very aware of other military actions taking place. If they aren't large enough to warrant their own thread (North Korea "nuke" test has a thread here already)perhaps we can discuss them in this thread.
The other part of the defense world to discuss is the success and failures, the trials and tribulations of acquisition.
Going off my memory I believe the following countries are trying to replace some old fighters, be they LM makes, Migs, or Mirages:
Denmark (looking to replace their F-16s, Switzerland (replacing F-5s, India (replacing mainly the MiG-21, and Brazil (replacing the aformentioned F-5s and the Mirage 2000 . There's also the F-35 Saga and now with the USAF supposedly shutting down the F-22 line weather it may be approved for export to some first tier nations such as AUS or JPN.
In the space world I'm not aware of much going on besides the ESA's Galileo (which I doubt will be ready for even 75% coverage by their "operational" target of 2013. Though what coverage of the globe counts as operational?
Finally, I will leave you with a few defense blogs I've found that keep me up to date. Please chime in with any of your own.
The DEW Line: 'Distant Early Warning' for the global defense industry
ELP Defens(c)e Blog: Opinoins on war stuff that may or may not work
An Aviation Week aggregation: Ares on Defense
Just for fun: IMINT & Analysis
Japan is relaxing it's military export restrictions, which seems to be related to possibly joining the F-35 coalition (I can't find the specific article I saw that in). It should be interesting to see where that leads over the next few years.
Obama is making good a promise delivering a Patriot missile battery to Poland under terms negotiated during the Bush administration.
Funny twist though--the missiles' armaments apparently aren't included in the deal. They'll be stored in Germany, rendering the timely defense capabilities of the device rather suspect much to the exasperation of the Polish gov't.
Well, we're rolling out our first national security cutters, to replace the 40 year old ships that's been doing that mission.
There's an interesting story developing in some of China's neighbors. Just within the past month or so, Vietnam ordered 6 Kilo-class submarines as well as a dozen Su-30MK2 fighters. Additionally, Australia released a white paper advocating a strengthened naval presence to counter the growth of China as a military power.
This comes as China has been taking about adding aircraft carriers to its fleet, with even some work being done on the Ukrainian carrier they purchased a few years ago. This follows Japan's introduction of a helicopter
Simultaneously we also have two incidents with the USNS Impeccable being harassed by Chinese civilian ships as it searched for submarines in the South China Sea.
All in all a pretty impressive, yet subtle, arms build up.
Good thread topic. This kinda stuff is always a fun topic to discuss.
Russia currently has some of the best equipment for the buck right now and it seems a lot of countries are stocking up on their tanks (T-90) and aircraft. I believe the Indian air force recently had a big competition to evaluate several different planes with the Mig-35 being the favored (but still yet undecided I think)
I'm not totally sold on the idea of the F-22 and F-35. Mega-expensive considering our current fighers (F-18, 15 and 16) could probably be remodernized and upgraded at bargain prices.
I agree on that last one. Why not a new F15 variant with the thrust vector tech that was developed for the F-22?
I still do not understand why we destroy the facility to produce capable and cost-effective aircraft (the A-10 is a prime example).
We can't make new ones because we destroyed key tooling...
WHY? Once it proved to be a successful, cost effective, and combat proven aircraft why not keep at least a small scale capability to re-produce them. Now we have nothing even CLOSE to the same effectivness coming up, and what we do have costs 2 metric fuckloads of cash.
Is it REALLY that bad expensive to simply mothball the machines and tooling in a warehouse somewhere and drag em out every 5 years or so to make replacement parts and aircraft? How much can it possibly take to have a few guards and a climate controlled warehouse set aside for storage. it cannot possibly cost more than the Billions upon billions to build new super-weapons.
Keep things as long as they do their job. The B-52 is still the best at what it does, and will be so for the foreseeable future... Don't retire things untill they have truly been supplanted by a better system. Why replace the F-15 when it's never (to my knowledge) taken a combat loss... is perfect not good enough? Why are we screaming for F-22s and F35s when noone can touch the last 2 generations of tech we put out.
As experimental, research.... sure, fine. Knowing how to do things doesn't mean we need to upgrade everyone asap.
Ren316: I think you are not taking into consideration the airframe age.
The entire F-15 fleet was grounded a year or two ago when one broke apart during training.
Do the B-52s see lots of operational use? (After reading wikipedia it does seem to get some limited use in the bombing roles, but I wonder if more of these weapons are delivered by UAVs and F/A-18s/F-15Es.
Some Russian hardware pictures during their Victory Day celebration:
Certain payloads cannot be carried by anything except for B-52s. I think in the early days after Sept 11 the air force was using B-52s for heavy carpet bombing in areas and also using daisy-cutter bombs. UAVs and F-15/18 fighters cannot come close to that level of payload.
The Russians have essentially been upgrading their already excellent models, the Mig-29 and Su-27 over the years which is extremely cost-effective. Take an excellent model and keep tweaking it with better electronics.
I do see the need for continued research and creation of newer military equipment but not scrapping everything we have. Keep a small batch of F-22s and F-35s then supplement the remainder of the fleet with upgraded fighters (F-15,16,18).
India has an existing and large investment in Russian made equipment it makes sense for them to continue in that vein, especially with India's history with the USA and Russia and Pakistan's relationship with the USA.
1) The BLU-82 is not in use anymore. Not to say they can't be manufactured again, but why bother when we've got a new bigger and better bang with the GBU-43?
2) Also the BLU-82 cannot be deployed from the B-52, same with the GBU-82, they can only be delivered by Hercules. So the B-52 use status on these bombs is a non issue.
A good place to lurk and learn, especially the forums:
Gonna be a bitch having to repaint every time the threat level changes.
And no you can't park/drydock them on my lawn.
Damnit, I thought you lived near Todd's.
Oh, and I doubt we'll ever need to change from stealthy high gloss white with a big red stripe. Or high-vis orange helos.
What's a cost-effective aircraft? More modern design may cost more upfront but cost way less to use by lower fuel consumption and reduced maintenance hours.
For example a fighter AESA radar will cost a lot but won't fail and require repair every 50 hours...
The B-52 is actually less cost-effective than a B1B when maintenace and fuel costs are considered. Of course, the F-22 or B-2 manage to combine both huge tag prices AND maintenace costs thanks to their stealth design but it's possible to make modern fighters that are both relatively affordable and maintenace-friendly (e.g. Gripen, Rafale and perhaps F-35).
It has never faced a serious air force with modern equipment either... A F-15 going into a country using Eurofighter, Rafale, Gripen, F-18, F-16 (MLU or block 52/60), Mirage 2000 (mk2 or -9) would be in for a nasty surprise (and that's just Western stuff that we've sold all over the world).
Denamrk, Norway and Netherlands will all go for the F-35 thanks to the "shared development" scam.
Interesting (IMHO) competitions are:
India (MMRCA contract, 100+ fighters but as it's India it will take forever, may even be canceled and in the end it will be a political decision - likely a US plane).
Brazil: FX-2 program, contenders are F-18, Rafale and Gripen (I'd say Gripen is likely due to budget reasons, with Rafale a close second).
Switzerland: contenders are Rafale, Gripen and Eurofighter (no guess here, Rafale is rumored to lead the technical evaluation but Germany is putting serious pressure on Switzerland for the EF2000).
Beyond that, Lybia is trying to decide between Su-35 and Rafale, playing both France and Russia against each other. There are also talks between the UAE and France for an order of 60 Rafale but nothing final yet.
I almost forgot Japan who is in talks for the Eurofighter but everyone knows that in the end they'll buy more F-15 (or perhaps F35) - Dassault did not even bother to answer the RFP.
The whole deal is pretty much suspended.
The Swiss defense political scene is kinda frozen right now.
We changed Defense minister and Army chief a few months ago and pretty much every decisions are frozen till both those guys decide where to go.
The fact that the fighter purchase is pretty much the only Ace in our sleeve when it comes to defending our sacro sanct secret banking system doesn't help.
Another interesting market is Israel. They've been lobbying very hard to get their hands on F-22s but since everything that you hand to the Israelis ends up in the Chinese' hands it seems unlikely they'll get them.
Hell, their second option, the F-35, seems to be a dead-end too.
Other options would be the usual trifecta of European planes, probably no qualms there as all those manufacturers are desperate to sell their planes, anyone!
Looks like Lockheed Martin will try to sell 24 F-16s to Egypt.
Boeing and the Eurofighter consortium are looking to try to squeeze in on Canada's JSF market. (most likely will be unsuccessful)
The F-16 is a good fit for Egypt because they are familiar with maintaining and operating them. Switching to anything else would be much more work.
One always interesting site I didn't mention in the OP:
The Lexington Institute. Defense (among other things) think tank.
On the upcoming gap in USAF and USMC jamming capability. Seems the only one that has done this right since the end of the cold war has been the navy.
The future of the US Defense market (as you would guess, it trends down, hence the focus on the major contractors on overseas competitions).
Agreed, but what else is there as a credible opposition? The Su-30MK's, ok, but there's just not that many of them around. China and India have credible fleets, Malaysia has some and Algeria, Venezuela and Vietnam (iirc) will bump up their inventory to 25-35 or so. Other than that, not much.
(To put it another way, there's just a dozen or so more Su-30MK's exported globally than the number of Gripens operated by the Swedish Air Force alone.)
That doesn't mean the F-15 can just be kept, of course, they're coming apart (on a couple of occasions in mid air, even).
Agreed that this is the likely outcome, but it is turning into a rather interesting matter. One should of course keep in mind that big aircraft acquisitions almost always turn into infected internal political fights in small but prosperous western parliamentary systems (and elsewhere too), so one shouldn't make too much of it, but still ... it's shaping up to be a spectacle.
Norway was first out, and that is already a scandal. For those that haven't followed it, a brief (and yes, Gripen-biased) recap.
Norway signed on to the F-35 development project, but stated that they'd let others compete as well. Eurofighter and SAAB did so, but EF withdrew almost immediately stating that the Norwegian acquisition process was not serious and it was a foregone conclusion that they'd go with the JSF. SAAB stayed in, and offered the Gripen NG (in development 39E/F).
Norway hasn't signed on to any deal and will not do so until 2011 (iirc), but a major milestone was due in December 2008. In November, the government cut that short and announced that they wanted the JSF because it was not only better than the Gripen NG for Norway's defense needs, but it was also cheaper. This obviously raised quite a bit of eyebrows.
Regarding the capabilities evaluation, that's still classified but from what's been made public it's clear that they put an enormous emphasis on stealth, and also evaluated the F-35 very highly in the air-to-air role. This is problematic, to put it lightly, since unlike the F-22 (which has decent all-aspect stealth) F-35 stealth is optimized for the strike role and not for the aerial combat role. This is pretty damn important since there's serious questions about the air-air performance of the F-35 if the stealth doesn't work as LM claims (thrust/weight, loadout, range, etc).
Whether the Norwegian defence acquisition analysts are competent to rate the F-35 versus the Gripen NG is also pretty much up in the air (ha ha). Norway has never built aircraft and they only have experience of operating 3d generation birds: exactly how are they competent to evaluate a 4.5gen offering based on a 4gen platform (Gripen NG) against a 5gen offering that's barely flown? Since very little has been declassified, we don't know, but the Norwegian are telling us their computer simulations are 'very advanced' ... (advanced enough to use F-16 rates of attrition for the Gripen, apparently).
Moving on, costs, which was the really big wtfbbq moment of the Norwegian statement. Again, most of this is classified, but some of it has leaked out or been made public. They actually claim that buying F-35s would be several billions cheaper over 30 years than going with the Gripen. Unsurprisingly, it turns out some creativity was needed to arrive at this conclusion, such as (and this is from memory so I could have some of it wrong):
* Changing around numbers of total aircraft to be purchased without telling SAAB (buying 57 would of course likely mean a lower per unit price than buying 48, but if you don't tell SAAB, well...)
* Changing around other things without telling SAAB, like equipment and avionics etc
* Using a historically low dollar to Norwegian crown exchange rate to calculate the F-35 acquisition cost (they used a rate of 1:5.2 when 1:6.5 is the balanced historical rate).
* Roughly doubling the estimated maintenance and operation costs of the Gripen NG (over 30 years) supplied by SAAB and FMV (Swedish defense acquisition board) without telling SAAB/FMV. It's fine to make your own estimates of course, you have to do that, but if you're telling FMV which has 15 years of experience of maintaining and operating the Gripen platform that their publicnumbers (you can't hide this stuff, it's in public budgets) are off by 100%, one might think you'd ask for some clarification or something. Nopes.
* Roughly halving the per unit acquisition cost of the F-35. The Norwegians and LM would like the Norwegian public to think that Norway which may buy 57 F-35's will pay about half the unit cost of the US military which will buy 1500+ ...
* Etc.
Now, reasonable people can certainly disagree on the merits of the F-35 versus the Gripen NG (or the EF etc) for an air force like Norway's. That does not change the fact that the Norwegian process has been a farce, and by Scandinavian standards actually quite mean-spirited from the Norwegian government side. As Robert Hewson, editor of Jane's Air Launched Weapons said, "It makes Norway look a bit like a Banana Republic".
I shouldn't gripe too much though -- if the Norwegian gov had not been so over the top and instead just quietly said "the Gripen is great and all but we think we prefer the JSF" everyone would have accepted that and moved on, score one for the JSF. Since they gladly donned the clown costume, other's are going 'wtf is up with that?' and really looking at it.
Will they go with the F-35? Yes, unless there's a major breakdown in the program they will. But their actions have guaranteed that this will be a lingering scandal that just won't go away -- that's what happens when you promise the moon and won't be able to deliver.
Denmark? Probably F-35 but since their low key acquisition process so far appears to be somewhat decent it's a bit more open, I think. The Norwegian debacle certainly put Danish politicians in a difficult spot: they tend to favour the F-35 but they don't want to come off like Norway.
Netherlands? F-35. They're too deep in since they're second tier in the dev, imo. Looks like it may well turn into a good dog and pony show like Norway, however.
Other than that, there's smaller acquisitions on the European horizon in Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. Also the large Greek tender that I know little about.
In my view, this is currently not a serious acquisition project. They're waving around this paper product (which is of course endlessly postponed) to attract major military-industrial attention for political and industrial purposes. As you say, it's completely political and it doesn't even make any sense from a military point of view -- the aircraft included in the process are very disparate compared to the stated role spec, so they've covered that up by changing around their shopping standards and even breaking them up into tiers in what looks more like an attempt to attract as many as possible rather than decrease this fluff in the process. Makes sense from a political/industrial perspective, not from a military one. Business as usual in India, in other words.
(Why was Dassault ejected like that and then allowed back in, though? Never understood it, can you clue me in? Edit: aha, they claimed tech transfer issues.)
I think range could be an issue here, but yes, if the political chips fall the right way Gripen has a decent chance.
This one is completely up in the air imo, at least we can expect it to be relatively free of political shenanigans. The Swiss need to decide what their air doctrine really is, once they have done that they will buy the aircraft best fitted to it, end of story. The problem is, of course, if they bungle the imho necessary doctrinal review.
As you say, Japan and the F-35 saga will be interesting to follow. Even more so, Australia.
Good thread initiative by Psion, btw.
Personally, if I were a regional power on the order of Brazil with no designs on conquering my neighbors or playing in the international arena and looking to fill out my air force with something modern, I'd go Gripen all the way, no questions asked. It's just far too attractive from a bang-for-buck standpoint, seems to be excessively capable for just about anything except going up against the NATO or Russia or China, and dammit, it's just a fine looking little aircraft.
Didn't they do this to offset a supposedly much higher (and unrealistic) attrition rate?
Croatia, Bulgaria & Romania would favor the Gripen (or US F-16) as they don't need the bigger planes.
Greece is a mystery. They initially declared they were going to buy the EF2000, then lack of money (thanks to the Olympics) and political pressure from other countries meant that the deal was suspended. France is now pushing for the Rafale and the US the latest F-18 block.
Conspiration theory: the Rafale is the most suited plane of the selected one so they had to dismiss it early before selecting the F-18.
Most likely explanation: the French botched their answers to what looks like a tedious and over-zealous administrative process.
Anyway, it took 20+ yeras for India to select (and get) a new jet trainer only to cancel the follow-up order two years later so I don't believe any contender expect an order anytime soon.
Brazil is a huge country and the Gripen (even in its NG version) has a limited combat range. The Rafale offers a lot more range as well as commonality with the Mirage 2000 that the FAB already operates.
But for a smaller country, Gripen does make a lot of sense (like Kuweit, they recently selected the Gripen over the Rafale because they had no use for the extra range and capabilities).
Anyone have any info on the current status of the USAF Boeing/NG Tanker debacle? It's completely dropped out of the news AFAICT.
As for the Greeks, they budgeted ~€7.5 billion for 4th gen fighters (playing keeping up with the Joneses on the planned Turkish JSF purchase and also replacement of their 2nd gen F-16 fleet) back in 2006 - the thinking then that it was a straight up fight between the EF & F22 but as stated nothing has been in the news recently.
And Brazil - The Russians are competing (with the SU-35) and dangling the possibility of letting the Brazilians manufacture them themselves. Saab is in with the Gripen NG, not sure of others.
Finally - the Netherlands. Hiphink's comments about it turning into a soap opera are pretty on the mark. The Dutch court of Audit recently released a report stating that essentially the process (which was suspended till '10 in '06 after the collapse of the government following the Srebrenica report) was geared towards the JSF to the exclusion/detriment of competitors.
Still since the cost of withdrawing from the the JSF program could be half-a-billion dollars they will probably end up with the JSF.
As far as I know:
The Air Force (which is back in charge of running it) will issue an RFP this summer, hoping to select by the end of the year.
Edit: Looks like it's still up in the air whether the DOD or the AF will run it.
It seems Boeing is set on refreshing the good ol' F-15 airframe for another round:
I suppose they are trying to find an export product since it seems the US Gov doesn't seem to want to let the F-22 be exported and the assembly lines of those will soon be shut down.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last generation of manned, cutting-edge, combat aircraft anyway. Last generation was about 20-25 years, and in two decades I think combat UAVs will be up to the task. Thinking along those lines, I'm not too concerned about spending a ton of money on these ones if their replacements will likely be much lower-cost.
Here's an interesting post:
USAF Says Less F-35s
The gist is the USAF is saying they don't need 17xx F-35s, but it won't drop below 1500. The author says that if the upcoming QDR (due in 2010) could find that much fewer F-35s are necessary, under 1000.
Higher cost to produce all the others I suppose.
At another site:
Five tidbits from a Boeing press conference.
Here's one:
You know, that's the same scenario all fighters go through nowadays.
Governments go to the manufacturers, ask for a new fighter and promises to buy a shit load of them and when the manufacturer after almost decade long delays finally gets to deliver the .gov tells them they actually only want to buy a small fraction of the initial amount.
Okay so I lied in the title a little bit, since this is some civil space news (maybe I should have said non-commercial -- I'll probably change it after this).
As some people may know NASA is buying a new set of GOES birds. They selected Lockheed Martin and Boeing protested. Boeing withdrew the protest before GAO evaluation when NASA promised to re-evaluate. They ended up going with LM again and Boeing protested again. The most interesting thing is why:
Basically I understand it to be
-NASA said Boeing looked better
-NASA evaluates/modifies bids as they try to come up with a true picture.
-NASA chooses LM
-Being asks for documentation on why they NASA changed Boeing's bid to cost more/be weaker and NASA says the documents that detail it were accidentally destroyed.
Perhaps NOAA should buy them directly instead of letting NASA do it and having NASA have to deal with all the politics with the competitors.
Apparently Boeing wants to develop a version of the F-15 called the F-15SE (silent eagle). Neato
@PsionEdge - I find it very interesting that the general complaint is very similar to the one they levelled at the AF concerning the tanker bid process.
I have a feeling that Boeing have hit on a guaranteed money-maker here - the bids and evaluations are so complicated and the process so convoluted that it is almost always possible to pick holes in it.
The thing that I can't believe is that the documentation that describes how NASA came up with Boeing's final score was destroyed. Especially since during a previous round of briefing NASA told Boeing it was ahead.
Ridiculous. There needs to be some serious acquisition reform. For all areas, DOD, NASA, etc.
Dunno about the range thing. Going from the Wikipedia stats (always a dangerous choice), the Gripen A combat radius of 800km + the alleged %40 improvement the NG will bring 1120km. I think combat radius is usually measured as max cruise to and from station + 1 hour loiter + 5 minutes on afterburner + reserve. So for strike and interdiction missions it's range would probably be a lot better than that, especially with the supercruise capability.
What it comes down to is people, and our defense-industrial complex is characterized by the same bunch of fat crooked pricks, they all travel in the same circles, play golf together, etc...
Our culture is fundamentally broken, the scum has risen to the top, and they all look out for their own interests first - no amount of bureaucratic rule making will fix it.
We need a cull.
The defense industry is only a particularly egregious example of this, but it is true of the society in general.
When a country with a population less than one of our major cities can put large numbers of something as capable as Gripen into service, while we are still mostly dicking around with creaky 20-30yo airframes (despite our ludicrous defense budget) and making silly boutique quantities of the (admittedly awesome) F-22, something is seriously fucked...
1800km+ for the Rafale still makes it a better choice, especially when you're already familiar with the manufacture.
The Gripen is no doubt a great aircraft, but the Rafale still beats it for large countries at least on paper.
Range is certainly an issue with the Gripen NG if selected for Brazil.
Even more so, however, is imo that Gripen represents a somewhat different way of doing BVR. It was designed for the Swedish steel bath scenario: an overwhelming WarPac aerial assault within an extremely compact time frame but relatively generous physical space. This meant going up against huge Soviet packages, since that's how the Soviets do BVR -- big aircraft with lots of missiles in large formations. The Gripen was meant to defeat that by refusing to front up and instead use small packages hitting them from several directions where these would take turns acting as tracker/killer for each other. The bird(s) getting a lock is normally not supposed to do the kill, that task is outsourced to another package. Since any Gripen can use the PS-05 radar track/lock of any other Gripen within TIDLS range (~500km iirc), it is possible for package A to light up the opfor and let package B (with their radars silent) do the actual launch, the AIM-120s/Meteors being vectored in by team B using the PS-05 live data from team A. If the missiles are set to terminal independent engage very late, this should theoretically be very difficult to defend against and/or evade.
However, this mode of fighting is quite taxing in terms of doctrinal changes, training, support organization, etc, if the air force in question has never done it this way. Since buyers tend to shop according to set doctrines rather than the other way around, what should be one of the main advantages of the Gripen for 'lesser air forces' rarely comes into play during the acquisition phase. It's not just an aircraft/platform, it's also a somewhat different way of fighting, and many prospective buyers don't want that.
In a shocking development of the Swiss fighter purchase, the resident anti-militarists managed to get enough signatures to have a votation on the subject.
And by shocking I mean, the water is wet, fire burns and birds fly.
The text asks for a 10 year moratorium on fighter purchases.
Let me also give you a splendid quote:
I guess then we ought to buy a pure fighter plane... hmmm... that leaves us with the Eurofighter and the F-22?
Oh wait, those are now also fighter/bombers...
What exactly is the purpose of the fighter purchase in the first place? Pretty much any attack on Switzerland could be called "unlikely", so what theoretical scenario are they supposed to be a deterrent for? A non-military, Sept. 11th style attack?
Basically air police and protecting the airforce's know-how.
Combat of any kind is extremly unlikely nowadays but who can say what happens in 50 years? We all know how Europe felt in the 20s and how that turned out...
Well, then all you need it for is to maintain ability. Buying older planes should be fine. Tactics these days are dictated more by comm/data link/EW than by planes' kinematic performance. Go buy some F-15 SEs


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2017-2018 BC Dance Marathon Committee Member Application
Why be a part of BC Dance Marathon (BCDM)?
Dance Marathon has become the nation's largest student run philanthropy. Each year this event raises millions of dollars across America, benefiting the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). The philanthropic event gives back to the local community where Dance Marathon occurs, in the case of BC Dance Marathon (BCDM), all fundraising goes directly to Boston Children's Hospital and their efforts to treat and research for children who suffer from terminal illnesses, trauma, abuses, and accidents. Dance Marathon is a 12-hour event in which BC students come together for the kids. Dancers stay on their feet as a sign of compassion in order to acknowledge what these children continue to go through. Now preparing for our 3rd year of BCDM, we are setting big goals for Dance Marathon 2018!
We are working to recruit a hard-working, passionate, team-oriented group of BC students FOR THE KIDS! By joining a BCDM committee you will develop skills in an area of interest while also seeing your hard work change the lives of so many others. Warning: Once you join BC Dance Marathon, your life might be changed forever due to the indescribable experience. Each committee will be led by one of the Class Council Dance Marathon Leaders. Please see below each committee description as well as the weekly day and time each committee will meet this semester.
As a committee member you will be expected to attend the weekly committee meeting, major BCDM campaign events throughout the fall and spring semesters (including tabling on campus), the fall semester half-day retreat, spring volunteer meeting (early February), and the entirety of the BCDM event on February 17th, 2018.
Note: We encourage those who will be studying abroad in the 2018 spring semester to apply to serve as a member on the following committees: Fundraising and Marketing.
Committee Descriptions
The Operations Committee oversees all operational and functional details of the BC Dance Marathon other major BCDM campaign events. The committee works with University officials and departments, as well as outside groups, to organize the space, equipment and miscellaneous pieces of BCDM throughout the year. Other responsibilities include coordinating the Miracle Week (in the spring semester), the minute-to-minute schedule for the BCDM event, serving as the primary liaisons with the Boston Children's Hospital families, training organization members for the Marathon, and leading Marathon setup and cleanup.
This committee is responsible for securing both on- and off-campus performers for all 12 hours of the Marathon and helping to organize for the major BCDM campaign events. They collaborate with other committees to help especially, the Operations Committee, create the minute-by-minute schedule for the Marathon, lead the planning for the Fall Kick-Off Week, and are responsible for developing new and exciting activities (including the Morale Dance), class competitions, games, videos, etc. to make for an active and engaging BCDM experience.
The Fundraising Committee serves as the liaison between the BCDM and the surrounding community. These individuals coordinate the fundraising efforts on the BC campus and in the greater Boston College community. The committee is key in fostering relationships and organizing sponsorship and donations with individuals and businesses in the community, organizations and alumni. This committee oversees the BCDM raffle and the donations for the BCDM event and related campaign events throughout the year. This in addition to coordinating and managing In-Event Fundraising at BCDM.
The Marketing Committee is responsible for all communication on behalf of the organization, both internal and external. The main responsibilities of this committee include creating, editing, and publishing written content, coordinating media coverage for the organization and its events, designing graphic materials for various applications, managing the social media accounts of the organization, and ensuring all members of our community are communicated clearly with via email and other outlets. Individuals within this committee will have the chance to work behind the scenes in development, or serve as part of the Morale & Recruitment team responsible for recruiting dancers, motivators, and volunteers to participate in the Marathon. Also included in this committee is the continual maintenance of organizational morale throughout the year.
Applications are due on Wednesday, April 26th at 5pm. Decisions will be made and communicated to applicants the week following the application deadline.


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Joe Jonas and his siblings used to dread early morning mall soundchecks when they were starting out as the Jonas Brothers - because pensioners and fitness freaks who frequented the shopping centers at 6am hated their music.
The pop star hated the mall tours because they'd have to rehearse hours before the shops were open for business.
He says, "At 5am, elderly people would walk around the mall, pace, fast walk and they were not cool with us soundchecking."
Joe Jonas emphasised just how bad it was during an appearance on chat show Lopez Tonight on Monday (08Aug11) when he showed home video footage of a five-year-old mall warm-up.
The camera caught a couple of disgruntled "mall walkers", one of which plugged her fingers in her ears to drown out the din.


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BAKER � Teacher Stacy Burlison�s efforts to educate Baker School students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have attracted the Air Force�s attention and recognition.
BAKER � Teacher Stacy Burlison�s efforts to educate Baker School students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have attracted the Air Force�s attention and recognition.
Burlison has been named the Hurlburt Chapter 398�s Teacher of the Year. The Hurlburt AFA � part of the state and national AFA, operated by retired and active military personnel and volunteers � helps educate the public on aerospace technology�s importance. The non-profit organization particularly supports STEM education.
Burlison, a Baker teacher for four years, said she is focused on teaching middle school and high school students, and that she has a goal in mind.
"The initial thought of it was to bring more engineers out of Baker," she said.
Thomas Shipp, the school�s principal, stated in an email that the school is proud of Burlison and her accomplishment.
"She fully deserves this award. She has been a leader in STEM education in our school by sponsoring several competitive engineering and robotics teams, co-sponsoring a STEM club, teaching two middle school STEM electives, and excelling as a physics and advanced math teacher,� he said.
�She has logged many extra miles to serve our students who have interests in science, technology, engineering, and math. She helps make learning fun.�
For instance, Burlison had created a murder mystery, in which students must use physics knowledge to solve the crime.
"I am one of those cooky teachers," she said. "I try to keep it entertaining."
In addition to receiving a plaque from the Hurlburt chapter, Burlison will receive a $250 donation. The school will receive the same amount as a grant.
Burlison plans to use the money toward her classroom, which she said could use an iPad. The tablet would further students� technology-based education.
She also will receive a one-year membership to the AFA, which includes a one-year subscription to Air Force Magazine and full access to the organization�s many resources. The local AFA could link area teachers to Air Force engineers or personnel who could come to the school and speak to the students.
"As a chapter, we recognize elementary, middle and high school teachers," said John Jogerst, a Hurlburt officer. "We recognize these teachers who impact their students."
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.


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Let's Step Outside
The evolution of the fight scene, from the Duke to the Dark Knight.
Attention abuse is certainly one way to describe the on-screen tumult that is by now a summer multiplex ritual and that increasingly suggests even more aggressive terms than Murch's. (Try pureed instead of tossed.) In last year's The Bourne Ultimatum, directed by shaky-cam virtuoso Paul Greengrass, the action often approximates epilepsy (and, according to some, induced motion sickness). This year, the murky, jerky aesthetic dominates the whiz-bang scenes in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Despite general enthusiasm for the movie's pop-Nietzschean gloom, some critics have grumbled about the blink-and-miss-it action, especially the sequences of hand-to-hand combat. "Nolan appears to have no clue how to stage or shoot action," David Edelstein wrote in New York magazine, complaining that it was impossible to make "spatial sense" of some of the fight scenes. Even in her New York Times rave, Manohla Dargis noted that the finale was "at times visually incoherent."
The fight scene as it usually turns up in today's action spectacles—smeared, destabilized, fixated on chaos at the expense of clarity and precision—reflects the changing syntax, the all-around acceleration, of movies in general and Hollywood blockbusters in particular. The current vogue for chopped-up fights also raises the question: Are these hyperedited brawls any more successful than their more straightforward predecessors?
Click here for a video slide show on the evolution of the fight scene.


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Typ: Rolling Tobacco
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so you can write a
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to it.
but please be fair, concise and restrict your comment to the product itself.


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The act of passing a blunt to the other end of the rotation. Making sure everyone is involved on the poo choo express. The first person says all aboard, the second makes the sound of a train starting, the third makes the says chuga chuga chuga poo choo, and so forth till it gets to the last person in rotation, and they makes a train braking sound. If that last person fails to make the braking sound, you'll end up with a train wreck. This also makes it so nobody can double hit.
There isn't enough room to sit in a circle, so we gonna have to get the poo choo express going.
by Bman130u August 26, 2012
buy the domain for your pet site


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INDIANAPOLIS – More than 100 masters athletes competed at the .US National Road Racing Championships in Alexandria, Va., where favorites Kathy Martin (Northport, N.Y.), Doug Goodhue (Milford, Mich.) and newcomer Tom McCormack (Johnson City, Tenn.) set new marks in the 12 km along with Terry McCluskey (Vienna, Ohio) and Roy Englert (Springfield, Va.).
Martin, a regular among female distance competitors, finished in 48:59, breaking the previous record of 50:49 set in 2000. With this win, her time ranks in the 99.46 percentile of her age category.
The 70-year-old Goodhue is seven-time Masters Runner of the Year (2002, 2007-12) and won all 19 races in which he competed in 2013.
"I've been working very hard after being injured and missing almost half of last year," said Goodhue. "To win the national championship and to win my age group was my goal. I had been thinking about the American record for the last few weeks, so I had that in mind."
Goodhue's finish at 49:16 broke the previously standing 50:28 mark set in 1994.
"When I turned 70, I went through and looked at some records to see what I might do well in. The big thing is that I broke the record of Warren Utes, and he is a hero of mine. He has to obviously be in his 90s now, but he set the benchmark that I broke on Sunday morning."
McCormack is new to the national racing scene but has been competing in local events across the country. He crossed the finish line in 43.01 to beat the 2000 mark of 43.43.
"It's my best finish in the last 20 years," said McCormack. "When I was in college, I was a lot faster back then. It was fantastic to run and rub elbows with elite athletes, and I am ecstatic with (my) performance. My main goal was to at least win the 60-plus division. A little while later, I found out that I was the age grade overall champion and that I had the record."
McCormack is a native of Ireland who received a track & field and cross country scholarship to East Tennessee State University, where he competed from 1973-77.
Also setting records were Terry McCluskey (Vienna, Ohio) with his time of 46:58 and 91-year-old Roy Englert (Springfield, Va.) who finished in 1:34:33. There were no existing records for the 12 km in their respective categories.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country's #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.
About .US
.US is the country code domain name for the United States of America. .US is managed and operated by Neustar, Inc. (NYSE:NSR), an information services company, on behalf of the United States Department of Commerce. Neustar operates the .US global registry in the public interest and provides critical infrastructure services. Visit www.about.us for more information on .US, and visit www.neustar.biz for more information on Neustar.


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Alex Fitzpatrick writes on Mashable:
Anonymous is taking credit for a confirmed breach of security at the U.S. Department of Justice, although the exact contents of the data bounty are not yet known.
"Today we are releasing 1.7 GB of data that used to belong to the United States Bureau of Justice, until now," reads an Anonymous press release, referring to the Department of Justice. "Within the booty you may find lots of shiny things such as internal emails, and the entire database dump."
The hacktivist collective has been known to make bold claims, but a Department of Justice spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Anonymous members did indeed access a server that hosts the Department's statistical data, including cybersecurity records…


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Find a poem by a local poet, famous or obscure, from the region one of your ancestors lived in. It can be about an historical event, a legend, a person, or even about some place (like a river) or a local animal. It can even be a poem you or one of your ancestors have written! Or if you prefer, post the lyrics of a song or a link to a video of someone performing the song.
The poem is "Out, Out" by Robert Frost. The text of the poem is below, or you can listen to this reading:
Out, Out
by Robert Frost
The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.
And from there those that lifted eyes could count
Five mountain ranges one behing the other
Under the sunset far into Vermont.
And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled,
As it ran light, or had to bear a load.
And nothing happened: day was all but done.
Call it a day, I wish they might have said
To please the boy by giving him the half hour
That a boy counts so much when saved from work.
His sister stood beside him in her apron
To tell them "Supper." At the word, the saw,
As if it meant to prove saws know what supper meant,
Leaped out at the boy's hand, or seemed to leap -
He must have given the hand. However it was,
Neither refused the meeting. But the hand!
Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all -
Since he was old enough to know, big boy
Doing a man's work, though a child at heart -
He saw all was spoiled. "Don't let him cut my hand off -
The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!"
So. The hand was gone already.
The doctor put him in the dark of ether.
He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath.
And then - the watcher at his pulse took a fright.
No one believed. They listened to his heart.
Little - less - nothing! - and that ended it.
No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.
© 2011 Denise Spurlock


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Designers & Creatives
DaWanda is not only about unique products. It's about the unique people who create them and about discerning buyers who always look for originality and quality.
Here you'll find members with incredible talent, fascinating stories, and a like-minded interest in all things handmade. Browse through the community to discover them and get in touch.
Where would you like to browse:


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EBSCO eBooks Getting Started and Troubleshooting for Android Devices
Use these helpful links to get started using EBSCO eBooks, as well as learn how to download and read them on your Android device.
Getting Started
eBooks Tutorials
eBooks Help Sheets
General FAQs
What are the system requirements for downloading EBSCO eBooks?
Can I place a "Hold" on an EBSCO eBook or Audiobook that is currently checked out by another patron?
Are downloaded EBSCO eBooks automatically removed from my computer after the checkout has expired?
How To...
Why am I unable to open or save an eBook when accessing EBSCOhost through EZ Proxy?
Why are my patrons receiving an "Error Stream problem" message on Android devices when they try to download an EBSCO eBook?
International Users
Are you looking for EBSCO Support materials in another language? Click the following link to visit the EBSCO Support Site International Resources page and choose your desired language.
EBSCO Support Site International Resources Page


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The Enchanted Forest
Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry.
Disabled bookings phone line
Registered Disabled Blue Badge Holders may book a Disabled Car Pass to enable them to park on site at the event by calling 0800 978 8761
We have limited spaces on site so if you are able to travel to the event via bus, please leave these spaces for customers who really need them.
For more information please visit our FAQ's
Choose Tickets
After you buy, click Split It With PayPal to easily split ticket money with friends.


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Container gardening is hot, and the use of decorative pots is even hotter. In some cases, the pots have become even more important than the plants inside them. One growing trend is matching the pot color with the color of flowers or foliage. Although a great idea, this can get expensive if you have lots of plants. Here's an alternative.
Iris pot covers are Italian-made, colorful fabrics that stretch over and fit snugly around pots. They're available in a variety of colors including fuchsia, turquoise, lilac, and beige. The synthetic fabric is machine washable and mold resistant. Covers come in small, medium, and large sizes, with saucers that fit under the pot. They fit on 4-, 6-, and 8- to 10-inch-diameter pots. Simply stretch the cover over your pot and saucer to create an instant designer container to match your beautiful flowers.
For more information on these new pot covers, go to: Kinsman Company.


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Joan Rivers' daughter Melissa lay down on the floor with Kelly Osbourne after her seizure on Thursday (07Mar13) because the singer-turned-reality TV star was "disoriented" and kept attempting to stand up.
Kelly Osbourne collapsed while filming her TV show Fashion Police, and her co-host Rivers and Melissa rushed to her aid.
Melissa Rivers kept her friend calm by "holding on to her", but admits the health scare was traumatising.
She tells ETOnline.com, "More than anything it was just scary. I just laid on the ground holding on to her until the paramedics came.
"She was disoriented and I just laid on the ground with her to keep her down because she kept trying to stand up.
"I made her look at me. I said, 'I'm here, stay with me, it's all fine'. I explained where we were."
Kelly Osbourne wanted to continue working on the show but she was taken to hospital, where doctors placed her under observation to determine why she suffered the seizure.
In a subsequent post on her Twitter.com page, Kelly Osbourne explained, "Thank U (you) all 4 UR (for your) beautiful well wishes yes I did have a seizure they are just trying to figure out why?"


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Don't forget to snag my Valentine's Day Unit: All You Need is LOVE during this awesome SALE!
Click {here} to check it out in my TpT Shop!
Happy Shopping!
This is one of my favorite products that I have purchased! I'm so excited that there's an update, woohoo!! :)
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What an awesome resource!!!
Literacy Without Worksheets
This is a great file. It has helped my students so much! Thanks for the update :) I am off to download as we speak!
Learning In Wonderland
Whoo hoo! Off to download the update! I love your comp packs. :) Own them and use them ALL the time.
I was just printing some pages from your Reading Comprehension packet this afternoon. It was already great like it was, but I will definitely head on over and download your revised version. Thanks for creating a resource jam packed with useful items!ReplyDelete
I am your newest blog friend! I love your work and cannot wait to see what you do next! I would love it if you would follow me back!
Did you also update the pack on teachers notebook? I purchased it from there at the beginning of the school year : ) GREAT resource !
Lindsey - email@example.com


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By creating an account at BroadwayStore.com you will be able to shop faster, be up to date on an orders status, and keep track of the orders you have previously made.
Whether you are buying Broadway merchandise as a gift, have missed the opportunity to purchase souvenirs when a Touring Musical Production came to town, or just want to purchase Broadway collectibles to expand your own collection, The Broadway Store is your one stop shop for all things Broadway. The Broadway Store provides you with a wide range of Broadway Souvenirs including Posters, Books, CDs, DVDs, Hats, KeyChains, Magnets, Mugs, Bags, Apparel, Novels and a whole lot more!
The Broadway Store is Broadway's most comprehensive online store, offering all the latest and greatest Broadway musicals and plays and their memorabilia with fast, secure, and reliable shipping. So if you are looking for Broadway souvenir merchandise from your favorite musical or play, now you can shop and pay online quickly and securely, without having to fly all the way to New York City. Shopping for Broadway fans has never been so fun and easy!


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How We're Built
Troy-Bilt® is driven by the simple idea that every piece of outdoor power equipment we build should be the most rugged, reliable and durable machine out there. We make it hard on ourselves so that spending time in the lawn and garden is more enjoyable for you. It's this inspiration that drives us to design and thoroughly test our outdoor power equipment and lawn care products to be built for life.
Take our new line of residential zero-turn riding mowers. They were built on a strong one-piece steel frame and feature the industry's first and only limited lifetime frame warranty. To ensure the frame would be ready for some serious yardwork, Troy-Bilt put the mower through a series of tough tests, including running it back and forth over a ladder to simulate tough terrain, and repeatedly dropping it from a height of 3 feet to test its strength. Check out the zero-turn mower videos to see some of these tests in action.
Troy-Bilt also offers the TriAction® cutting system on our walk-behind mowers for a clean, even cut. Rigorous testing ensures long-lasting durability in real-life situations - from extreme temperature tests to drop tests to shake tests. To learn more about how we design and test our walk-behind mowers, watch these videos.
Troy-Bilt shares the same passions as lawn and gardening enthusiasts, and we're obsessive when developing our tools. That way, you can focus on caring for your outdoor space and not the performance of your equipment. You can see our driven design in our new line of 4-cycle string trimmers, which are easy to start with JumpStartTM and SpringAssistTM and don't require mixing oil and gas. To learn more about how we designed our string trimmers, check out the user-focused design.
From our mowers to our trimmers to all our products, we make sure we administer only the toughest tests. We even drive our tillers through rock piles so their patented Bolo® tines are ready to tackle any challenge in the garden. Don't take our word for it; watch these tiller videos to see the test for yourself.
Our consumers' love for lawn and gardening drives us to make the most reliable, rugged and durable outdoor power equipment that is as ready to go after years of use as they were the day they rolled off the assembly line. We design and test our lawn and garden products so they're built to last - so they're built for life.


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How to be reachable abroad on your smartphone by parents, credit card company or business without roaming charges?
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 28, 2014
People love more and more to travel, and do not want to pay any roaming charges when making or receiving calls from family, friends, business associates or credit cards company. Friends also don't want to pay extra money to reach us.
i-Mobb service is ideally positioned for solving this problem.
i-Mobb provides each traveler with an app on their smartphone or tablet to make and receive calls as at home with no extra cost for their correspondents and just for the duration of the trip.
Most travelers use other applications to avoid roaming. Nevertheless, these are not convenient solutions and this is why:
They are only useful when a correspondent is also connected to those applications.
What to do if they are not connected at the same time as one is?
What to do if the traveler wants to be in touch with his grandmother, his credit card company, or his business? None of them are on an App to receive calls.
But the main issue when abroad is to receive calls with the ability to consult a Voice Mail at no extra charge when not available.
So for those 3 reasons, not being able to be connected at the same time, not being able to really contact anyone on a fixed budget, or not being able to be contacted anytime, we have created i-Mobb, the free roaming app. With i-Mobb, for a nominal subscription for the duration of your trip abroad (1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks or 1 month) one can give and receive unlimited calls as if one is at home and at no extra cost for his correspondent. No more hassle to coordinate a conversation, no more problems to reach anyone anytime for as much long as one wants with no budget constraint, and one can receive all his calls or retrieve all his messages for no charge and no extra fee for his correspondent.
The app works on Android and iOS devices and it can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple store.
Besides this simplicity and convenience, i-Mobb is now available for resale by travel agents and travel professionals. The app's online home, http://www.i-Mobb.com/resellers, has important details and information for both customers and resellers.
"Today's world travelers are independent and tech-savvy, and they're looking for a way to continue their interconnected lives while abroad. With i-Mobb, the app that lets users avoid roaming fees and make unlimited calls during trip overseas, resellers can simply offer the VoIP solution without any investments. We can't wait to see what the world's top travel agencies can do for their clients with our technology," said Bernard Drai, Founder of the app company.
i-Mobb has specific calling plans for residents of 38 countries and allows unlimited calls to 60 countries. the i-Mobb App provides a "No Roaming" solution for residents of countries like USA, Germany, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Hong Kong, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, Israel, Spain and many more.
A unique feature allows unlimited calls to 60 countries including USA, Canada, France mobile, Morocco, Thailand, Hong-Kong, most of Europe and many more destinations. Details are available on the web site of i-Mobb.
To learn more about how to use i-Mobb or how to become an i-Mobb reseller, travel professionals can visit the no roaming app online at http://www.i-Mobb.com. The company is also active on social networks, including Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/IMobbTheGlobe and Twitter at http://twitter.com/IMobbTheGlobe.


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Check out reviews left by other students or leave your own review. You could win a free scholarship.Add your Review
Joel - Beulah, ND
Reviewer is A current student here. Reviewer has not been to campus.
1 of 9
Categories Comments In three sentences
Valley city is the most friendliest college because it is a small town and you get to know more people. It is not stressful to be there because of how small the town is. Lastly, the professors will help you if you need help for your work, or get a tutor to help you.
Deborah from Davenport, ND
Reviewer is A current student here.
2 of 9
Categories Comments Clubs and Activities
If you want a club not represented, you can start it. I'm involved in English Club, History Club, CRU, Alpha Lamba Delta, Kappa Delta Pi, Spanish Club and Concert Choir. There are so many others: Drama, Improve, Mind craft, Fisheries and Wildlife, Psychology Club, VCAB, and many others.
Great for these types of students
Studious students Social Students Quiet Students Basically every type
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The Squirrel is the unofficial mascot of VCSU. You can see them everywhere.
Bang for the buck
I love it at VCSU! The tuition is reasonable and the education you receive is amazing. Not to mention the friendships you will make.
What to do for fun
Campus provides different activities such as glow in the dark volleyball, scavenger hunts, open gym, movie nights, and many more. Movie nights and comedians are my personal favorites.
Food and Dining
The cafeteria food is great! They serve a wide variety of foods and always have something you will like. From burgers to salad bar to pizza. Also the staff is so nice and friendly.
Dorm Life
The RAs are awesome. They are so helpful and understanding. The dorm rooms are small, but cozy. Also the dorms are close to the main buildings, so you don't even have to walk that far to get to class.
Academic Rigor
VCSU provides an amazing variety of classes. I feel challenged in my higher level classes, but the professors are always willing to help if I'm completely lost. You have to work for your grades, but there will always be that one easy class you can fly by in. There is also a great on campus tutoring center if you ever need help.
Tips for prospective students
Get to know your professors. They are your best resources for passing and excelling in your classes. Also attend as many classes as possible. This will help so you won't get behind or lost in the class, especially when it comes time for tests or finals.
In three sentences
Valley City State University (VCSU) is like home for me. The campus is great and so welcoming, and the faculty work in every way possible to help you succeed. I have no regrets for choosing VCSU for my college career.
Tyler from Valley City, ND
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
3 of 9
Categories Comments In three sentences
I'm still in high school, but I feel right at home whenever I am on campus. Everyone is friendly wherever you go and if you need help, all you need to do is just ask.
Albert from Fargo, ND
Reviewer is A current student here.
4 of 9
Categories Comments Campus Safety
The campus has one security guard on duty but no police enforcement on campus. The campus is pretty safe and there haven't been a crime yet at the moment.
Greek Life
They have one Greek life group. They have a sorority on campus.
Clubs and Activities
Here are some activities: 1. Campus Cru 2. Newman Club 3. Human Resources Club 4. DECA 5. VCSU Student Senate
Great for these types of students
Here are some types of students who most likely wants to attend this college: 1. Students who are planning to major in elementary education 2. Biology 3. Software Engineering 4. Business Administration
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Well, one unusual location is the Bubble or the gym area for sports is located almost a kilometer away from the college campus. They have another gyjm/sports area on campus in an old building. It is use for volleyball. The bubble is use for basketball and practices.
Bang for the buck
This college is small, but the academics here are really good! The cost for this college is really cheap. It is a good ROI if you get your degree here.
What to do for fun
Well, I like to watch movies and TV shows in my dorm. I like to hangout with a group of friends and attend school activities and clubs.
Food and Dining
Since VCSU goes through Sodexo for their food provider, their food selections are amazing most of the time. My favorite courses for dinner and lunch are the stir fries. They have healthy food during the weekdays. However, during the weekends, they only serve mostly French fries and cheeseburgers. They should have more choices during the weekends.
Dorm Life
The dorm life is really amazing too! People are really nice and will intermingle with others without judging them. They have 1 dorm hall that was renovated. The dorm life is pretty awesome!
Academic Rigor
The academic side of it varies by professors and curriculums. It is a fast paste academics settings. The professors expects you to do your work and to study before tests. The assignments hardness varies from teacher to teacher.
Tips for prospective students
1. Go to classes on time 2. Study and work on your assignments every day instead of working on them at the last minute before they are due. 3. Meet people if you can in order to take risks and improve your overall life. 4. Make sure to join clubs and activities to increase chances of meeting new people and to become more rounded.
In three sentences
Valley City State University is a great university to go through if you are looking to become a teacher. This college is small and the people are phenomenal. The teachers to students ratio is really good. You get your questions answered and you get to know your professors on a personal level. There are many clubs and activities that you can join. Overall, the academics and people are awesome! You will love it! The college is really cheap as well!
KaSaundra from Valley City, ND
Reviewer is A current student here.
5 of 9
Categories Comments What to do for fun
Many activities to get involved in as well as clubs. Activity boards, intramural sports, and game nights.
Tips for prospective students
Be ready for cold. Get an on campus job. Make yourself personable.
In three sentences
Very easy to get to know other people. Great lounge areas for homework. Great place to start out the next step in life.
Veronica from Immokalee, FL
Reviewer is A current student here.
6 of 9
Categories Comments In three sentences
I have only been here for a short while but I can tell I'm going to enjoy my time here at VCSU.
Troy from Wilmot, SD
Reviewer is A current student here.
7 of 9
Categories Comments What to do for fun
Lots of different things bowling. Fast food restaurants
Food and Dining
Top of the line in food.
Dorm Life
The dorm life is as dorm life is not great but ok.
Academic Rigor
Plenty of different majors for anyone.
Tips for prospective students
Come here and you'll love it.
In three sentences
I love how small the school is and everyone knows your name and the teachers all know you.
Lael from Houston, TX
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has not been to campus.
8 of 9
Categories Comments Food and Dining
Doing online...
Dorm Life
Doing online...
Tips for prospective students
If you want to do online, this is the way to go....
In three sentences
Great online program, faculty is very helpful, like the online format. I am looking forward to starting in the fall. I think my time will be used wisely by attending VCSU.
Amy from Orlando, FL
Reviewer is A past student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 9 of 9
Categories Comments Clubs and Activities
Health emails are sent regularly to all students, there are contests and projects for extra curricular activity.
Great for these types of students
Musical or technologically gifted students should check this out.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
They have an excellen online program that I have used and will continue to use for several of my classes. (I am a fully online student.)
Bang for the buck
It's pretty expensive, but it's to prepare you for walking right through graduate school.
What to do for fun
Video and composition projects.
Academic Rigor
I had a chance to switch one of my classes here to a different school, and I declined. I can think of no better place to prepare me for the business world.
Tips for prospective students
The online program is amazing! Whether you are a face-to-face student, or online, it is best if you communicate with people.
In three sentences
Students are encouraged to be diligent. The teachers are sensitive to cultural differences, know their subjects well, and communicate effectively. Each class teaches valuable life skills related to the subject of study.